y of employment. This is altogether a fallacy, which we may call
the #fallacy of Protection#, but it is one which readily takes hold of
people's minds. No tradesman or manufacturer likes to see himself
underbid by those who offer better goods at lower prices. When foreign
goods, then, are preferred by purchasers, the home manufacturers of such
goods complain bitterly, and join together to persuade people that they
are being injured by foreign trade. There is still so much national
pride and animosity, that a nation does not like to be told that it is
being beaten by foreigners. The manufacturers, misled by their own
self-interest, use all kinds of bad arguments to show that if foreign
products were kept out of the country, they could make as good ones in a
little time, and then they could employ many people, and add to the
wealth of the country. They fall, in fact, into #the fallacy of making
work# before described (section 55), and argue as if the purpose of work
was to work, and not to enjoy abundant supplies of the necessaries and
comforts of life.

Now it is impossible to deny that certain owners of lands and mines and
works may be benefited by putting duties upon foreign goods of the kind
which they want to produce. Those who are already enjoying the advantage
of such improper duties may, of course, be injured when they are
removed. But what we have in political economy to look to, is not the
selfish interests of any particular class of people, but the good of the
whole population. Protectionists overlook two facts--(1) that the object
of industry is to make goods abundant and cheap; (2) that it is
impossible to import cheap foreign goods without exporting home-made
goods of some sort to pay for them.

We have already learnt the obvious truth that wealth is to be increased
by producing it in the place most suitable for its production. Now the
only sure proof that a place is suitable is the fact that the
commodities there produced are cheap and good. If foreign manufacturers
can underbid home-producers, this is the best, and in fact the only
conclusive proof that the things can be made more cheaply and
successfully abroad. But then it may be objected, what is to become of
workmen at home, if all our supplies be got from another country. The
reply is, that such a state of things could not exist. Foreigners would
never think of sending us goods unless we paid for them, either in other
goods, or in money. Now, if we p